In this particular case the agent (not me) recommended a local lender who offers a specific loan product for unwarrantable condos, which this one was, to the buyer. The buyer elected instead to go with a local branch of the number one mortgage originator in the nation. The loan officer energetically claimed that he could do the loan. Remember the "Does This Make My Butt Look Big" post? He was just doing his job even though he didn't know there was no way his bank would loan in this particular complex. Any loan officer experienced with condos in our market would have instantly recognized that this condo-tel would be a problem, if not impossible, loan. The buyer didn't find out that the lender couldn't loan on the unit until well towards closing and is now scrambling trying to rescue the purchase through the originally recommended local lender.
Our takeaway here is that it is better to have a lender who can close the deal than one who promises the lowest rate or the bank with the most recognizable name. In addition, prospective condo buyers would do well to familiarize themselves with possible hurdles. My "Condo Mortgage or Root Canal" post from three years ago listed the major items that the lenders want to see in condo associations. A weekly rental unit may be attractive for the income possibilities but any condo that allows weekly rentals is going to be a mortgage challenge for multiple reasons. Ask your agent for recommendations for lenders who have products available for problem complexes.
I hope the surfers among the readers got some of the fun surf last Sunday. It was one of those rare summer surf days with a decent sized ground swell, clean conditions and all the waves one desired. Lots of smiles around town Monday. This coming Friday and Saturday are the last two days of our six day red snapper season in Atlantic waters. I got my one fish limit last Saturday with a 20 pounder and hope to repeat it again this weekend.
"Music was a lot better when ugly people were allowed to make it." ____Otis Gibbs
